Simplified assessment of the need to use the explicit model of reinforced concrete beam-column joints instead of the centreline model

摘要

This paper considers the structural modeling of reinforced concrete beam-column (RCBC) joints of unbraced framed structures. The main objective is to establish a formula that determines, for each particular situation, if the centreline joint model may be used or if an explicit model, which although more accurate is also more complex, is required. Accordingly, in order to circumvent the need to analyze the full frame and to avoid the shortcomings of empirical procedures we derive simplified classification criteria (SCC) based on the stiffness of the joint components. By applying these SCC to a given RCBC joint, it is classified either as semi-rigid, meaning that an explicit model is required, or as nominally rigid otherwise. The determination of the parameters that are required by the SCC is fully discussed. The presented example illustrates the application of the developed SSC to particular RCBC joints, showing that its results are mainly confirmed by the analysis of the full frame to which they pertain.